Velvet Scoters

Dungeness - mild, cloudy, S4 - With a brisk southerly sweeping across the peninsula our first port of call this morning was Lade where a late Swallow was the highlight hurrying south. We also saw one here yesterday along with a Goldeneye on south lake and a Clouded Yellow on the shingle, while KE also noted a Dartford Warbler in the gorse along the main track. An hour at the boats with the seawatchers produced a few passing auks, Gannets, Sandwich Terns, Red-throated Divers, Kittiwakes and two each of Common and Velvet Scoters. On Thursday morning first thing in fine weather we walked the gully in company with JY where there was little on offer apart from a few grounded Goldcrests, Stonechats, Goldfinches and Robins, plus two Bearded Tits high overhead and a Raven.

                                  Red-throated Diver, Dungeness

                                  Clouded Yellow - Lade

Little Auks

Dungeness - cool and cloudy, SW 4 - An overcast morning with the threat of rain produced ideal light conditions for a seawatch, and there were plenty of birds on the move down-Channel as we joined Jacob and Charlotte at the fishing boats. Almost at once they called out two close Little Auks fizzing by (which I managed to pick out with the bins) one of which landed on the sea and quickly disappeared from view in the swell. Not long after Jacob picked up a Grey Phalarope about half-way out that was only discernible through a scope; interestingly both species were not seen by the watchers in the hide. However, the bulk numbers were provided by a steady stream of auk sp, Razorbills and Kittiwakes and lesser numbers of Gannets further out. Also passing westwards were several Sandwich Terns, Mediterranean and Little Gulls, two pale morph Arctic Skuas and a Brent Goose as well as a scattering of Red-throated Divers fishing just offshore along with two Grey Seals. Pulses of Starlings raced in-off numbering in the low hundreds, while ten Skylarks and a Merlin were noted further along the beach towards the lifeboat station. A decent couple of hours then, as Little Auks are hard to come by in the Channel and certainly not a bird I now see annually. (ref. trektellen website for today`s seawatch details).

                                  Slavonian Grebe - Burrowes

                                  Shirley Coward Hide

Next stop the reserve where the re-contouring of Boulderwall fields is really taking shape and hopefully should benefit the breeding Lapwings and Redshanks next spring. The new hide where Makepeace once stood has now been officially re-named as the Shirley Coward hide and it was from here that an obliging Slavonian Grebe could be seen fishing close by. Elsewhere around Burrowes all the usual wildfowl, egrets, harriers and Lapwings were present, and likewise over the road on ARC. Driving across the causeway road two Peregrines tussling with one another almost got hit by a lorry as they flew towards New Diggings. Checks of Kerton quarry and Lade pits proved fruitless apart from a redhead Goldeneye on south lake, presumably the bird seen on Monday.

 

                                 Ted after his haircut 

Woodlark

Mild, sunny, W4 - This morning`s Ted walk took in a long sweep around Dungeness where birds were hard to come by in the brisk breeze. However, halfway along the Pilot Path I almost stood on a Woodcock which hurtled off through the sallows, while a few minutes later a calling Woodlark passed overhead unseen. Otherwise it was a case of just a few tits, crests, Chiffs, Robins, Mipits, Stonechats and Blackbirds lurking in and around the Trapping Area. After drawing a blank at Kerton quarry we moved on to Lade where the highlights were my first autumn sightings of Goldeneye (a red-head) and a Bittern that flew over the reed-bed on the far side of south lake. The sheltered sun-traps by the ponds attracted several Red Admirals, Peacocks and Speckled Wood butterflies. A check of the beach from the Tavern viewpoint yielded the usual shorebirds and gulls plus five Sandwich Terns.

                                   Red Admiral - Lade ponds

Shovelers

Lade - cool, sunny, W3 - Apart from brief visits to Littlestone and Dungeness earlier in the week I  haven`t been able to get into the field much of late due to a combination of family stuff and the poor weather. However, today the weather was superb with bright sunshine and a fresh breeze, ideal for a circuit of the local patch. South lake continues to attract good numbers of Shovelers with 325 counted this morning along with a respectable 32 Great Crested Grebes, plus four Grey Herons, six Little and a Great White Egret. The sheltered ponds area yielded several Blackbirds, Robins, Chiffchaffs and Great Tits as well as a single Ring Ouzel which was pretty unusual here. A tardy Swallow paused briefly over north lake while a Common Buzzard heading south along the coastal strip incurred the wrath of the local Jackdaws and Herring Gulls. The Desert section was quiet with just a couple of Stonechats and Meadow Pipits of note.

                                  Shovelers - south lake

                                  Meadow Pipit - Desert

We then moved onto Kerton Road where the old quarry was almost bird-less apart from a few common wildfowl and gulls; although a Dartford Warbler in the triangle scrub was a bonus. The  RSPB reserve was likewise quiet, mainly due to ongoing conservation work with the boat out on Burrowes lake and heavy plant working on the Bouldwall fields project. On the high tide at Littlestone this afternoon 52 Turnstones were foraging along the tideline and a lone Red-throated Diver fished offshore.

                                  Boulderwall Fields

    Red-throated Diver - Littlestone

Harriers

This weekend`s Ted walks took in Dengemarsh Gully, Lade pits and Pirate Springs where a trickle of passing migrants included mainly Swallows, Meadow Pipits, Skylarks and a Wheatear at the Springs, plus Goldfinches, Siskins and Blackbirds at the Gully along with two Firecrests, but no sign of Friday`s Pallas`s Warbler. Robins, Chiffchaffs, Stonechats and Goldcrests continue to be well represented in the bushes across all three sites while two Blackcaps lingered at the ponds. 

                                 Skylark and Wheatear - Pirate Springs

This afternoon in wet and windy weather conditions I joined Chris P for the first harrier count of autumn/winter at Walland Marsh where 12 Marsh Harriers settled down to roost. Due to the dreadful weather there was little else of note apart from several hundred feral Greylags over. 

Samphire Hoe

Mild, cloudy, NE 2 - Ted and I spent the morning with our Lucy (thanks for the snacks along the way) at the Hoe, a site I hadn`t visited for ages, and I was surprised as to how few people were about (probably due to the cafe being closed!); in fact, for most of the morning we had the place to ourselves. The walk through the stock field was relatively quiet with just a Ring Ouzel, a few Robins and Stonechats, four Swallows and a large flock of Goldfinches of note. But the birding picked up as we approached the under cliff and scrub towards the fossil beach with good numbers of grounded migrants; Linnets, Goldfinches, Robins and Chiffchaffs were well represented along with at least 20 Rock Pipits on the shingle beach, several Pied Wagtails and Stonechats and two Black Redstarts. High up on the chalk cliffs a pair of Ravens were being hassled by a gaggle of Jackdaws while two Kestrels and a Peregrine were also seen. The first bay towards the Warren hosted a couple of hundred roosting gulls, including 20 Mediterranean Gulls and six Little Egrets. An overhead passage during the first hour witnessed a few west bound Swallows, House Martins, Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, Chaffinches, Goldfinches and a Grey Wagtail. As we drove out through the tunnel I promised myself not to leave it for another ten years until a return visit!

                                  Samphire Hoe

    Robin

    Rock Pipit

    Black Redstart

    Peregrine

    Herring, Common, Black-headed and Mediterranean Gulls

    Ted

Yellow-browed Warbler

Dungeness - mild, cloudy, showery, NE 2 - Another grim morning on the point with light showers coming and going. Chiffchaff, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Goldfinch and Robin remain the most numerous migrants in the bushes, along with several Redwings and at least two Song Thrushes. Walking up and down the Pilot Path several times delivered two heard only Goldcrests, a Firecrest, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and, eventually, a calling Yellow-browed Warbler that has been present for several days now. Ring Ouzels were also in the thrush mix with one by Long Pits and two at the southern end of the Desert, one of which grounded close by on a shingle bank. The only other bird of note was a Kingfisher on Long Pits.

                                  Ring Ouzel - Desert

Glossy Ibis

Dungeness RSPB - Mild, cloudy, NE2 - A guided walk for ten guests this morning around the circular trail delivered all the expected wetland birds as well as a sprinkling of migrants. Dengemarsh was the pick of the site with a pair of Glossy Ibises and four Cattle Egrets from the hide, along with good views of several Marsh Harriers and a Hobby over Hookers reed-bed; other notables here included several Kestrels, Great White and Little Egrets, 20 Wigeon and vocalising Cetti`s Warblers and Bearded Tits. Whilst at the ramp a large flock of Greylags flew in with the lone Pink-footed Goose. On Burrowes two Pintails and a pair of Shelduck were amongst the common wildfowl, plus a mixed flock of 100 Golden Plovers and Lapwings, a Dunlin and a perched Kingfisher from the new hide. Also noted during the circuit plenty of Chiffchaffs and Robins in the bushes along with a few Goldcrests, Great Tits, Reed Buntings, Chaffinches and Stonechats with several pulses of Goldfinches, Swallows and Sand Martins overhead. In summary 63 species were recorded during the three hour walk. On the way out I checked out ARC from the newly opened Hanson hide where the only birds of note were a distant Little Stint, several Great White Egrets and another Hobby.

                                  Glossy Ibis - Dengemarsh

                                  Boulderwall Fields

Autumn Moths

Mild, overcast, NE 2 - As last night was mild with light winds I ran the garden moth trap as there won`t be many more opportunities this season before the trap is packed away for the winter. And it proved to be worthwhile; of the 15 species of macros that came to light Red-line Quaker was new for the site. The catch also included: Blair`s Shoulder-knot, Barred Sallow, Green-brindled Crescent, White-point and Common Marbled Carpet.

Autumn Moths - Red-line Quaker, Barred Sallow, Green-brindled Crescent & Common Marbled Carpet

Our morning Ted walk found us back on the coastal path from Littlestone Green to St Mary`s Bay and back across Pirate Springs. As it was low tide eight species of waders were noted feeding on the mudbanks including 160 Ringed Plovers and 20 Knots, plus 20 roosting Sandwich Terns and three Wigeons by the tideline. Parties of coasting Goldfinches and Meadow Pipits were the most prominent passerines along with single figures of Swallow, Chiffchaff, Reed Bunting, Linnet, Stonechat and Skylark around the golf links.

                                  Ringed Plovers, Dunlins and Knots - Littlestone

                                  Sandwich Terns - St Mary`s Bay

Ring Ouzels

Dungeness - Mild, overcast, drizzle, NE 2 - We spent the morning wandering around the point where, given the weather conditions and time of year, it was no surprise that a few thrushes dropped in; chiefly Redwings, both grounded and over-flying, plus several Song Thrushes and five Ring Ouzels (one at the wigwams and a group of four in the Trapping Area). A scattering of Robins, Chiffchaffs, Goldcrests and Blackcaps were present in the bushes with a trickle of Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, Goldfinches, Siskins and Bramblings overhead. Also reported this morning: a calling Yellow-browed Warbler, a Woodcock and a Pied Flycatcher in the Trapping Area; a Dartford Warbler by the station;  several more Ring Ouzels at Long Pits; and 19 Crossbills over. 

                                  Blackcap - Wigwams

                                  Redwing - DBO

                                  Rainbow over the Desert

Pink-footed Goose

Dungeness - mild, overcast, NE2 - There was very little of note at the point this morning with just single figure counts of Meadow Pipit, Stonechat, Skylark, Goldfinch, Linnet and Reed Bunting, plus two Swallows along the beach, while offshore plenty of Gannets were plunge-diving from the fishing boats. We then moved to the reserve where a Pink-footed Goose was lurking amongst the Greylag flock on Dengemarsh lake and a pair of Bearded Tits showed well on the grit table in Hookers reed-bed. On Burrowes two Little Stints were amongst a mixed flock of Lapwings and Golden Plovers from Dennis`s while the long-staying Curlew Sandpiper was noted briefly from Firth and a Hobby over Boulderwall fields. Next stop Lade pits, where there was nothing new, and finally onto the bay from the Tavern viewpoint on the incoming tide and the following counts: Oystercatcher c600, Curlew c300, Barwit 10, Grey Plover, 5, Knot 10, Dunlin 55, Sanderling 10, Ringed Plover 45, Sandwich Tern 30, Med Gull 5, Common Gull 50 and Black-headed Gull 200.

                                  Anti-predator fencing - Boulderwall fields

                                  Bearded Tits - Hookers reed-bed

Pirate Springs and Lade were both visited Friday and Saturday respectively without much success. While Chiffchaffs are still widespread numbers have tailed off somewhat over the weekend. With the wind direction shifting to a north-easterly the coming week looks a little more promising...

Bearded Tits

Dengemarsh - mild, cloudy, NW2 - We spent the morning birding the gully followed by the long circular walk around the wetlands and farmland. As per usual (for me, anyway!) the gully was virtually bird-less apart from a few Goldfinches, Redpolls and Siskins overhead and a pair of `cronking` Ravens. Penn Bars too was quiet as was a flat calm sea. However, walking back towards the field by Springfield Bridge things livened up somewhat with plenty of Reed Buntings, Goldfinches, Meadow Pipits, Linnets and Chiffchaffs feeding on weed-seeds, plus a perched Wheatear and a very shy Redstart by the footpath sign. The lake was covered in hundreds of Greylags recently, arrived from their overnight feeding grounds, alongside Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, two Great White Egrets, several Marsh Harriers, Kestrels and Buzzards and a Kingfisher at Hookers. But, bird of the day was Bearded Tit with numerous flight views of small parties helicoptering  above the reed-beds, constantly `pinging`, feeding atop the phragmites and from the ramp two briefly on the recently spruced-up grit tray; they really are very watchable birds. More flocks of common finches, Meadow Pipits and Reed Buntings were noted on the track around hayfield 2. 

                                  Reed Bunting - Hayfields

    Bearded Tits - Dengemarsh

Swallows

Pirate Springs - warm, dry and sunny, light airs - Our morning Ted walk started at Littlestone Green and followed the coastal footpath to St Mary`s Bay car park, returning via Pirate Springs. A few bits and pieces along the beach included several Mediterranean Gulls and Sandwich Terns, plus 30 Oystercatchers, 20 Turnstones, five Dunlins and two Grey Plovers. The bramble scrub and tamarisks were full of Chiffchaffs along with a few Robins and Great Tits as parties of Goldfinches and Meadow Pipits trickled overhead towards Dungeness. Several Wheatears, Stonechats and Skylarks were present around the old hotel while hundreds of Swallows and a few House Martins hawked emerging craneflies by the hillocks; many of which then settled along the fence-line tweeting amongst themselves and preening before heading south. Patches of ivy attracted plenty of red admirals and a couple of speckled woods.

                                  Great Black-backed Gull - Littlestone

                                   Mediterranean Gull - Littlestone

 

                                  Oystercatcher - Littlestone

                                  Carrion Crow - Littlestone

                                 Wheatear - Pirate Springs

     Chiffchaffs - St Mary`s Bay

    Swallows - Pirate Springs